Toothbrush sterilizer



June 28, 1949. .J. FEDERICO 1 TOOTHBRUSH STERILIZER Filed May 5, 1947 2Sheets-Sheet 2' IN VEN TOR.

@ 6 ffcig zkg ATTCI RN EYE Patented June 32$, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE TOOTHBRUSH STERILIZER Joseph Federico, Newark, N. J. ApplicationMay 5. 1947, Serial No. 746,014

1 4 Claims. This invention relates to a tooth brush sterilizer.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a sterilizer of suchconstruction that each time that a brush is inserted in the same,sterilizing fluid will be delivered to the brush and wherein the brushcan be retained within the sterilizer in an airtight condition withsterilizing fluid disposed beneath it and wherein there is a pluralityof chambers for the different brushes of the different members of thefamily and wherein the support for individual tooth brush container ismountable on a Wall and can be rotated for adjustment to provide accessto the different brushes removable from the top of the same.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a tooth brushsterilizer which is of simple construction, automatic in operation,inexpensive to manufacture and of compact design.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention,reference may be had to the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a sideelevational view of my tooth brush sterilizer showing the mountingbracket by which the same is connected to a wall.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view, in elevation, taken through thesterilizer.

Fig. 3 is a top plan View of the sterilizer with parts broken away.

Figs. 4 and. 5 are respectively transverse crosssectional viewstakenrespectively on lines 4-4 and 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail view of a cover opening device with thecover in the closed position.

Fig. 7 is a similar fragmentary and cross-sectional view where the coveropening lever has been depressed to raise the cover.

the upper ends of the containers I8 is a top plate 2| having openings 22for providing access to the upper ends of the containers I8.

Extending upwardly through the central structure I9 is a filling tube 23through which upon removing a cap 24, sterilizing fluid is poured into abottom chamber receptacle 24' threadedly con nected with a flange on thebottom end of the tube 23 as indicated at 25. The tube 23 and thereceptacle 24' is removable from the central structure when the part I!has been disengaged from the receptacle l6.

Leading from the receptacle 24 are conduit structures 2'! having attheir ends cylinders 28 in which plungers 29 work and extend upwardlyinto the bottom of the containers |8 and having top plate portions 3|with which the ends of the tooth brushes engage to cause the plunger 29to be depressed against the action of a spring 32 within the cylinder28. Antiseptic or sterilizing liquid is conducted to the cylinders 28and will be forced upwardly through a central hole 33 in the plunger 29when the plunger is depressed.

On the top plate 2| there are mounted a plurality of covers 34 forclosing respectively the openings 22 through which the tooth brushes areextended. These covers are hinged to the plate 2| through spring hingedevices 35 which tend to maintain the covers in their closed positions.These springs of the hinges are stronger than the springs 32 within thecylinders 28 and will when the covers 34 engage the upper ends of thetooth brushes cause the tooth brushes to depress the plunger 29 againstthe action of the springs 32.

In order to facilitate the opening of the covers 34 against the actionof the spring hinges 35, there are provided respectively pivoted levers31 engaging with the other faces of the covers and Referring now to thefigures, I0 represents a 4o which when depressed will cause the coversto bracket of U shape adapted to be attached to a wall surface andhaving top and bottom laterally extending portions II and I2. Mountedupon the bottom section I2 is a spindle |3 extending through an openingin the section I2 and secured thereto by a nut I4. This spindle isconnected to a cup shaped bottom l5 having a top externally threadedportion I6 adapted to receive an upper part IT on which is mountedaplurality of circumferentially spaced tubes |8 adapted to receive andcontain tooth brushes. The containers 3 are mounted in recesses of anupwardly extending central structure I9 integral with the part l1 andhaving lightening slots t9. On the be raised upwardly as illustrated inFig. 7. On the outer end of each lever 31 is a finger plate 38. On thecovers 34 are cam projections 39 which are engaged by the upper edge ofthe levers 31.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shallbe understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope ofthe present invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A tooth brush sterilizer and retainer comprising a receptacle forcontaining a sterilizing medium, an upper part disposed above thereceptop of the central structure and extending over 56 tacle, a cupshaped member enclosing the receptacle and connected to the upper part,tooth brush containers extending upwardly from the upper part, cylindersconnected to the upper part and depending therefrom into the cup shapedbase, conduit means connecting the cylinders with the receptacle so thatsterilizing liquid may be communicated to the cylinders, plungerelements operable in the cylinders and adapted to be depressed by thetooth brushes when disposed in their cdritainerswlierby to clause thesterilizing liquid tobe -force'd upwardly onto the brush and into thecontainers.

2. A tooth brush sterilizer and retainer as de''- fined in claim 1 inwhich a central structure extends upwardly from the upper part andenc'em:

4-;' A to( ith brush sterilizer ahd retainer as defined in claim 1 inwhich a central structure exitends upwardly from the upper part andencompassing the containers, a top plate on the upper endofthecentralstructure and having openings register-ingwith the upper end of thecontainers,

registering with the upper endo'ftliecohtainers;

covers on the top plate for closing the top open the upper end of thetube and the base and.

adapted t6'be attached to a WaIYS'u'rface.

JOSEBH'FEIQERICO,

No. references cited;

